Developing national sectors

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Developing national sectors

Avril is committed to assuring the growth of the vegetable oils and proteins sectors through the combined development of agricultural resources and national markets

A project to serve the regions

The Avril Group was set up at the initiative of farmers in order to guarantee local markets for their oilseed and protein crops. This commitment forms part of its historical activities and consists in developing agriculture in a region by deploying its industrial processing facilities that will enable the creation of value at the local, regional or national levels.

Ambitions in France and internationally

This objective has already been established in France, where more than half (56%) of its rapeseed and sunflower crops are processed by Avril’s industrial facilities. The Group has the same ambition at an international level. In Romania, 17% of oilseed production is processed by Avril; in Morocco, the aim is to encourage the cultivation of rapeseed, sunflower and olives throughout the country in the context of the Green Morocco Plan. Avril is adopting the same approach regarding the development of peanut cultivation in Senegal.

In France, the Group also supports the local development of other sources of protein, such as 100% French soybean.

Benefits in terms of jobs and food security

By driving the growth of national sectors, Avril is contributing to reducing the dependency of the countries where it operates. For example, in France, the development of oilseed crops has enabled an increase in the production of oilseed meals for livestock feeds and hence a significant reduction in soybean imports. This policy of localized processing has several advantages; in particular, it can offer employment in units that are mainly based in rural areas and also improve traceability, thus enhancing the safety and quality of the products supplied to consumers.

Developing sectors through innovation

Research and innovation are strategic levers for the growth of national sectors. Even upstream, thanks to its links with technical centers such as Terres Inovia, Avril participates in improving the economic and environmental performance of farms. The Group also invests in major research programs through public-private partnerships (PPP), such as the Institute for Energy Transition P.I.V.E.R.T*, the first European center for research and innovation in plant chemistry. This Institute is currently constructing an oilseed biorefinery for the future, the aim being to exploit the whole plant under an industrial ecology approach.

The French leader in animal nutrition through its subsidiary Sanders, in 2016 the Group signed the Duralim charter which promotes sustainable feeds for farmed livestock. Ensuring the quality, security and health safety of feeds, the recycling of by-products and precision feeding systems: Avril is involved in several areas covered by the Charter. A French origin is central to this approach, Avril's commitment being to achieve and sustain a use rate of more than 80% of French raw materials by its animal nutrition production units in France.

By developing the French rapeseed sector, notably through the production of biodiesel, Avril is contributing to reducing the country’s dependence on imported soybean. Increasing rapeseed production will indeed help to improve supplies of oilseed meals to feed farmed livestock. The result: French self-sufficiency in vegetable proteins for livestock feeds has increased from 23% during the 1980s to 55% at present, and imports have fallen accordingly.

Sustainable development goals in the Avril 2020 strategic plan

In Avril’s industrial facilities in France, to valorize 55% of the national oilseed harvest (as well as 23% of Romanian production in its plants in Romania and 27% of Senegalese production in its plants in Senegal). And to supply industrial facilities for livestock nutrition with more than 80% of French raw materials.

Abera

Specialised in slaughtering and cutting up pigs, Abera provides quality service and "tailor-made" products to wholesalers and industrial pork butchers within and outside France. Thanks to its 800 partner livestock farmers and modern, efficient facilities, Abera has been one of France's top ten pork abattoirs for more than 20 years.

Expur

Established in Romania, Expur collects rapeseeds and sunflower seeds and transforms them into edible oil for human nutrition, oilseed meal for animal nutrition, and biodiesel. Expur also packages its table oils and sells them under its own or distributor brands.

Lesieur

Matines

Matines is the number 1 egg brand in France. Created in 1985, the Matines brand has become the most recognised and popular egg brand in the country, and leads the egg market thanks to numerous original initiatives that have marked the history of egg production: free-range eggs, Label Rouge, organic products, etc.

MiXscience

An innovative company with expertise in nutrition and animal products, MiXscience provides its customers – companies in French and international animal production sectors – with a wide range of products and services: sector organisation consultancy, zootechnical and nutrition expertise, premix production, industrial expertise in animal nutrition, and the design of nutritional and mineral solutions.

Lesieur Cristal

Oleon

Oleon designs and produces molecules and ingredients from vegetable oils and animal fats, which are marketed to numerous industries (pharmaceutical, chemistry, food-processing, energy, detergents, public building works, etc.) as renewable solutions that combine technological performances, respect for people and the preservation of the environment.

Ovipac

Specialising in the creation of ready-to-use egg products, Ovipac offers a whole range of fresh, dry and frozen ovoproducts designed for foodservices (commercial catering, collective catering and bakers/pastry-makers).

Saipol

Saipol produces and markets in France refined vegetable oils for human nutrition, protein-rich oilseed meal for animal nutrition, biodiesel under the Diester® brand for incorporation into petroleum diesel, and the vegetable glycerine used by numerous industries.

Sanders

France's leader in animal nutrition, Sanders contributes a whole range of responses to the expectations and needs of all companies in the animal product sectors. Sanders undertakes to keep its promise on a daily basis: to provide added value to livestock farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, while responding to societal and environmental concerns.

Sopral

For nearly 50 years, Sopral has been cultivating its expertise as a dog, cat and horse food manufacturer by providing innovative nutritional solutions, which it sells to professionals and specialist channels. Sopral notably possesses sophisticated expertise in the manufacture of dry extruded food for cats and dogs under the Pro-Nutrition Flatazor brand, and high-quality flaked horse feed under the Dynavena brand.

Terrial

A specialist in fertilisers and the development of organic by-products, Terrial enables farmers to limit the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides while improving the qualitative criteria of products.

Theseo

Theseo designs, produces and markets products and services for hygiene in buildings and animals, breeding equipment and water treatment. Thanks to its RDI department and external business development partners, Theseo deploys innovative solutions within and outside France to improve health security, animal well-being and the performance of all kinds of livestock farms.